Finding Strength in Brokenness: How the Shame of the Crucifixion Speaks to Our Struggles Today
"Exploring the themes of shame, humiliation, and resilience in the crucifixion narrative offers a path to healing and connection in our own lives."
Good Friday compels us to confront the brutal reality of Jesus's suffering. The scriptures detail a horrific scene: 'You will be scourged and crowned with thorns, struck in the face and mocked, given vinegar and gall to drink, and nailed to the cross.' (EG 81,2). Jesus, like many victims of violence, endured not only physical torment but also systematic degradation. He was ridiculed, stripped of everything, and subjected to intense humiliation, aimed at breaking his spirit.
This article focuses on the theme of shame and humiliation in the crucifixion narrative. Shame is a deeply human experience, one that many people struggle with in silence. It’s a taboo emotion, often accompanied by feelings of isolation and the sense that one is fundamentally flawed. But this Good Friday, we remember that the crucified Christ shares in this suffering.
Stephan Marks, a leading researcher on human dignity and shame, describes 'traumatic shaming' as the experience where the four fundamental needs of a person are excessively violated: the need for recognition, safety, belonging, and the preservation of one's own integrity. The Gospel of Luke's depiction of the crucifixion reveals these forms of traumatic shaming.
The Crushing Weight of Vulnerability: Understanding Shame Through the Crucifixion
Before Jesus is crucified, he is stripped of his clothing in public (Luke 23:34). Completely naked, exposed to the most private areas of his body, which is suggestively called 'shame,' he is nailed to the cross. Artistic depictions often cover Jesus's nakedness with a cloth, likely out of respect and to protect viewers from the offensive sight.
- Loss of Control: The inability to protect oneself or control the situation heightens the sense of shame.
- Public Exposure: Being subjected to the unwanted scrutiny and judgment of others intensifies the feeling of vulnerability.
- Prolonged Suffering: The extended period of torment amplifies the emotional and psychological impact of the shaming experience.
Finding a Path to Healing
The Good Friday narrative, viewed through the lens of traumatic shaming, offers a powerful connection to contemporary experiences. Recognizing that Jesus shares our suffering brings concrete comfort and allows for the unspeakable to be voiced in His presence. For those burdened by guilt, the Crucified Christ offers reassurance that repentance is always possible and that forgiveness creates new possibilities. The true meaning of Good Friday becomes tangible: that is to heal, and to feel what has been hidden.